about this question,” Acts xv. 1, 2, compared with ver. 5—­“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees, which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses;” and with ver. 23, 24—­“The apostles, and elders, and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles, in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia:  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law.”  In which passages these things are evident: 

1.  That false doctrine, destructive to the doctrine of Christ in his gospel, did arise in the Church, viz:  That circumcision and keeping of the ceremonial law of Moses was necessary to salvation, ver. 1, 5, 24; and this false doctrine promoted with lying, as if the apostles and elders of Jerusalem had sent forth the false teachers with directions to preach so, as their apology ("to whom we gave no such commandment,” ver. 24) seems to import.  Here is corruption both in doctrine and manners fit for a synod to take cognizance of.

2.  That this corrupt doctrine was vented by certain that came down from Judea.  It is evident, it was by certain of the sect of the Pharisees that believed; as Paul and Barnabas make the narrative to the church at Jerusalem, ver. 5, therefore the false teachers coming from Judea (where the Churches of Christ were first of all planted, and whence the church plantation spread) published their doctrines with more credit to their errors and danger to the churches; and so both the churches of Judea whence they came, and of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, whither they came, were interested in the business.

3.  That the said false teachers by the leaven of their doctrine troubled them with words, subverting the souls of the brethren, both at Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, ver. 23, 24; here was the disturbance and scandal of divers churches:  compare ver. 39 with 41.

4.  That Paul and Barnabas at Antioch had no small dissension and dispute against the false teachers, ver. 1, 2, that so (if possible) they might be convinced, and the Church’s peace preserved, without craving further assistance in a solemn synod.

5.  That after these disputes, and for the better settling of all the churches about this matter, (which these disputes could not effect,) they decreed (or ordained) that Paul and Barnabas, and some others of themselves, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question, ver. 2.  Here was an authoritative mission of delegated officers from the presbyterial church at Antioch, and from other churches of Syria and Cilicia also, ver. 23, 41, to a synodal assembly with the presbyterial church at Jerusalem.

Secondly, Here were proper members of a synod convened to consider of this question, viz. the officers and delegates of divers presbyterial churches:  of the presbyterial church at Jerusalem, the apostles and elders, Acts xv. 6:  of the presbyterial church at Antioch, Paul, Barnabas, and others; compare verse 2 and 12.  And besides these, there were brethren from other churches, present as members of the synod; as may appear by these two considerations, viz: